This presentation explores how the ways in which Independent Schools in the UK have used data has changed over the past 25 years. It discusses what schools are looking for in a School Management System, including the advantages and disadvantages of Integrated management systems from one providers; and of specialist systems. It makes suggestions as to how School MIS will develop over the coming years. The presentation was given at the U-PASS WCBS Annual Training Seminar and AGM by Mark S. Steed, Principal of the Berkhamsted Schools Group, at the Queen Elizabeth Conference Centre, London on Thursday 29th June, 2014

1. Leading Change
with Parents
U-PASS WCBS
Annual Training Seminar and AGM
Queen Elizabeth Conference Centre
Thursday 29th June, 2014
Mark S. Steed, MA (Cantab.), MA (Nottingham)
Principal, Berkhamsted Schools Group

2. The Psychology of Change
THE PAST
THE DRIVERS OF CHANGE
THE PRESENT
THE FUTURE

3. THE PAST:
A RETROSPECTIVE
‘Information to run your school in future years’

4. The Good Old Days
School Record Keeping

5. The Good Old Days
School Record Keeping

6. The Good Old Days
School Admissions

7. The Good Old Days
School Reports

8. THE DRIVERS OF CHANGE
‘Information to run your school in future years’

9. The Drivers of Change
Factors – External to Education
Increasing use of
Benchmarking

10. The Drivers of Change
Factors – Within Education
Increasing use of
Benchmarking
Increased
Computerisation
of Sector

11. The Drivers of Change
Survival of the Fittest

12. THE PRESENT:
THE CHOICE WE HAVE
‘Information to run your school in future years’

13. The Present:
Information we need
Parental Contact Information
Admissions Data
Pupil Exam Results
Pupil Medical SEN EFL Data
Parental Correspondence
Pupil Tracking Data
Pupil Reports
School Performance Data
Bursarial Financial Data
Billing History
Wrap-around Booking Systems
Holiday Club Booking Systems
Catering Booking Systems
Benchmarking Data
Former Pupil Data
Fundraising Data

14. The Present: How to manage our data?
The choice we have
An Integrated System Specialist Systems
• Accounts, Fees and Billing
• Financial Planning/ Budgeting
• School MIS
• Fundraising
• Parent Portal/ Communication
• Catering Booking
• Holiday/Club Wrap Around Care
• Website
• VLE/ Learning Platform / Intranet
• Collaborative Tools and Apps
• Communication Systems

15. The Present: How to manage our data?
Berkhamsted’s Solution

16. The Present: How to manage our data?
An Integrated System
Advantages
• It is integrated
• Centralised Support
• It is simpler to set up
Disadvantages
• No single product covers the
full range of what schools
need
• Can limit functionality
• Elements of compromise
An Integrated System

17. The Present: How to manage our data?
An Integrated System
Advantages
• Greater functionality of the
Product
• Focussed Product Development
Disadvantages
• Integration is often very
difficult
• Range of Support
• Providers often blame
problems on each other
Specialist Systems

18. The Present: How to manage our data?
The choice WE have
Advantages
• It is integrated
• Centralised Support
• It is simpler to set up
Advantages
• Greater functionality of the
Product
• Focussed Product Development
Disadvantages
• No single product covers the
full range of what schools
need
• Can limit functionality
Disadvantages
• Integration is often very
difficult
• Range of Support
• Providers often blame
problems on each other
An Integrated System Specialist Systems

19. The Present: How to manage our data?
The choice YOU have
A Specialist Provider
• Develop the product to
enhance functionality
• Secure market share by
delivering a high quality
product.
• Work with a range of other
specialist providers on
integrated systems that talk
to each other.

20. The Present: How to manage our data?
The choice YOU have
• Diversify the product range
you have.
• Secure market share by
delivering a simple
integrated system that
makes life easy for your
customers.
• No need/ incentive to work
with other specialist
providers as these are
competitors.
An Integrated System Provider

21. The Present: How to manage our data?
The choice YOU have
A Specialist Provider An Integrated System Provider

22. The Present: How to manage our data?
Competition v. Collaboration?
A Specialist Provider An Integrated System Provider

23. The Present: How to manage our data?
Competition v. Collaboration?
A Specialist Provider An Integrated System Provider

24. The Present: How to manage our data?
Competition v. Collaboration?
A Specialist Provider An Integrated System Provider

25. The Present: How to manage our data?
The choice WE have
The Polarisation of Choice is not good for anyone
Specialist
Providers
Closed
Integrated
Systems

26. Management systems:
switching cost driving complacency?
3.6%
6.9%
4.4% 1.1%
12.4%
19.6%
1.1%
24.4%
8.0%
4.0%
48.4%
74.5%
73.5%
74.5% 79.3%
72.4%
65.8%
84.7%
63.3%
78.2%
82.5%
43.3%
16.0%
14.9%
14.9% 14.2%
12.0% 11.3% 9.5%
9.1%
8.7% 8.7%
5.1%
5.8% 4.7% 6.2% 5.5% 3.3% 3.3% 4.7% 3.3% 5.1% 4.7% 3.3%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Percentageofrespondents
Plan to replace in next 3 academic years
Plan to replace in next 18 months
No plans to replace
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27. The Present: How to manage our data?
The choice WE have
Just a Thought: Where is the tipping point to change MIS?

28. The Present: How to manage our data?
The choice WE have
The Polarisation of Choice is not good for anyone
Specialist
Providers
Closed
Integrated
Systems

29. THE FUTURE:
WHAT DATA DO WE NEED?
‘Information to run your school in future years’

30. The Future: What Data do we need?
Big Data

31. What Data do we need?
Seeing things we didn’t see before
Analysing pupil performance
• Distance from school (travel time),
• Age of Entry (Summer born v. Michaelmas born),
• Feeder preps,
• Departmental Analysis using MidYis Data
• Co-curricular activities they are involved in
• Disciplinary Record: order marks, merits & detentions.
• Attendance

32. The Future: Automated Systems
Even More Automated Tracking
• Flagged data
• Exception data
– Pupils off track
• Even greater analysis of pupil performance
against any chosen metric in the system.
• The ability for schools to tailor the system is
essential here.

33. The Future: Automated Systems
Live Reporting through Apps

34. The Future: Automated Systems
Live Reporting through Apps
• Teachers can upload text,
pictures and video
content to a portal.
• The content can be
tagged.
• Parents can immediately
see what is going on.
• Parents can feed back on
what is going on at home
to support classroom
work.

35. The Future: What Data do we need?
Data for lobbying
• Fair access
• Charitable activity
• Big data analysis to defend the School's
position
– Bursary applications postcode analysis.
– Analysis of academic performance of bursary
holders.

36. Email: principal@berkhamstedschool.org
Twitter: @independenthead
Linkedin: uk.linkedin.com/in/independenthead
Blog: http://independenthead.blogspot.com